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MIT OR Apache-2.0freeRuns locallyImage & Design

CADCraft: Open-Source AutoCAD Alternative

Pure-Rust AutoCAD-style 2D/3D CAD in the ArtCraft suite (pre-alpha).

CADCraft apartment plan with pick-point hatching, TrueType MTEXT labels, a table, a multileader, and architectural dimensions
Official project image. Source · License: MIT OR Apache-2.0.
License
MIT OR Apache-2.0
Stars
6,003 (2026-10-20)
Platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Web
First seen
2026-10-07

TL;DR. CADCraft is Pure-Rust AutoCAD-style 2D/3D CAD in the ArtCraft suite (pre-alpha). License: MIT OR Apache-2.0 (verified). Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Web. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to AutoCAD.

NameCADCraft
LanguageRust
SuiteArtCraft
LicenseMIT OR Apache-2.0
Pricingfree
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Web
Runs locallyYes
Stats6,003 stars · 2,655 forks (as of 2026-10-20)
First seen2026-10-07
Repositoryhttps://github.com/storytold/cadcraft

CADCraft is an open-source CAD app described as a clean-room AutoCAD-style drafting program in pure Rust. It is listed here as an AutoCAD alternative because that is the editorial mapping, not because we measured feature parity.

Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-20: storytold/cadcraft, release v0.8.0 (published 2026-10-17T23:35:10Z), ROADMAP.md, and the product URL named in the README, getartcraft.com/apps/cadcraft.

Key facts (2026-10-20)

Field Value Source
Stars / forks 6,003 / 2,655 GitHub API storytold/cadcraft
Created 2026-10-07T05:22:31Z same
Last push 2026-10-19T10:18:57Z same
License files MIT OR Apache-2.0 (dual) LICENSE-MIT, LICENSE-APACHE, README, Cargo.toml
GitHub license field Apache-2.0 GitHub API
Maturity pre-alpha ROADMAP.md (reviewed 2026-10-10, updated 2026-10-14)
Latest GitHub release v0.8.0, 2026-10-17T23:35:10Z GitHub Releases
Workspace version on main 0.9.0 (not a Release object) Cargo.toml
Platforms macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Web README
Suite ArtCraft (33,771★) storytold/artcraft

What the README says it does

Copied labels: command line (L, @5<45, AutoComplete), object snaps, polar tracking, ortho, layers, DIM* dimensions, MTEXT, hatch, BLOCK/INSERT, DXF read/write (R12–2018), DWG read/write via acadrust (write as R2000), paper-space layouts, PLOT/EXPORTPDF, geometric and dimensional constraints, MCP / CLI / JSON control. Desktop + WASM.

Gaps versus AutoCAD

Copy the project’s own gate list. ROADMAP.md says pre-alpha because four of five core workflows fail: object snap tracking / stubbed TRIM-EXTEND-OFFSET options; no block editor (REFEDIT in place; xrefs not yet); plots ignore plot styles; a DWG saved by CADCraft drops everything it does not model and “has never been checked in AutoCAD.” Vendor estimates opened 2026-10-20: feature breadth 50% (245/491 AutoCAD-for-Mac menu items with a live command), ready for real work ≈ 38%, mainstream 2D drafter ≈ 28%. 3D modelling in that table is 2%.

Mature 2D option: LibreCAD (GPL-2.0, v2.2.1.6). Parametric 3D is a different hub: SolidCraft and FreeCAD on SolidWorks alternatives.

Install (from the official README, not yet tested)

git clone https://github.com/storytold/cadcraft
cd cadcraft
cargo run --release -p cadcraft -- --sample

Desktop/web UI builds require Rust 1.95 or later; the workspace declared minimum remains 1.90. Signed v0.8.0 installers are on GitHub Releases. forkalt has not run them.

FAQ

Is CADCraft free?

Yes. Dual MIT OR Apache-2.0 (LICENSE-MIT, LICENSE-APACHE, README, Cargo.toml, checked 2026-10-20). GitHub’s license field shows Apache-2.0. Not legal advice.

Is it alpha? Does it replace AutoCAD?

ROADMAP.md (last updated 2026-10-14, opened 2026-10-20) labels the stage pre-alpha, not alpha. Four of five “alpha gate” core workflows still fail: object snap tracking, block editor, plot styles, and lossless DWG save. Vendor estimate: about 38% ready for real work. We do not claim AutoCAD parity.

What is the latest release?

GitHub Releases latest is v0.8.0 (2026-10-17T23:35:10Z), with signed desktop and web builds. Cargo.toml on main listed workspace version 0.9.0 in this check; that is not a GitHub Release. We have not run v0.8.0.

Is this the same job as SolidCraft or FreeCAD?

No. CADCraft is command-line / DXF-DWG drafting (AutoCAD-class). SolidCraft and FreeCAD are parametric 3D CAD (SolidWorks-class). See AutoCAD alternatives and SolidWorks alternatives.

Sources & verification

Last verified 2026-10-20 · Last updated 2026-10-20· Edited by forkalt editors · Editorial policy

License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.